BubbleStream

Hardy LeBel

About the Industry

Synopsis

About the Industry is an invaluable resource for understanding how the games business works.
Part one walks you through the companies involved, and shows how they work together - including how they make money. Confused about terms like "Alpha", "Beta" and "Crunch"?
Part two breaks down the game development process, step-by-step, from pre-production to release.

Author Biography

I'm a long-time creative professional from the video games industry, now writing and self-publishing career guides for gamers. Oh, and I'll start writing some fiction soon, so please stick around for that!

Author Insight

Solid Examples

Since game development can be a complex topic, my solution has been to fill the books with examples that are easy to read, and sometimes even funny. I find that when I'm laughing, that makes learning a lot easier.

Book Excerpt

About the Industry

THE CONCEPT PHASE

The idea for a new product is generated during the concept phase. Once a business objective is set, the creative process can begin. Sometimes the concept for a new game will come from a particular creative person or a team:

“I’d like to make a game about two plumbers who eat some ‘shrooms and then fall down a drain pipe into a magical world!” — Shigeru Miyamoto (possibly)

“I’d like to make a game about small animals racing through my neighborhood. I’ll call it Power Paws Racing!” — Me (just now)

Because projects are formed around business objectives, occasionally the concept for a game comes from the business department of a major game company:

“We just paid two squillion dollars for the rights to use images of Shaun White riding a snowboard. We need a new snowboarding title to launch during the next winter Olympic games!” — A Marketing Lady (probably)

Sometimes the concept for a new product is simply the continuation of a franchise that’s already successful in the marketplace:

“Americans like football and guns. Europeans like soccer, and also guns. Let’s make another Madden football game, another Battlefield game, and another FIFA soccer game. We literally cannot lose!” — Electronic Arts (definitely)

During the concept phase, the creators will sketch out the major ideas of the game. For example, I might come up with an idea and create a small pitch description that looks like this:

High Concept: Power Paws Racing is a third-person racing game featuring small animals racing through urban and suburban environments. Players can choose their own path through whimsical levels, and their animal abilities will offer special advantages, like climbing walls and trees, swimming in water, or chewing through wooden obstacles.